The Great Musicians: PurcellCummings, William Hayman
History
The Great Musicians: Purcell
Cummings, William Hayman
Purcell, Henry, 1659-1695
Another warrant under the signet gives an order to the treasurer of
the chamber for the time being, "to pay unto Thomas Purcell (one of
His Majesty's Musicians in Ordinary, in the place of Dr. John Wilson,
deceased), the wages and fee of £20 by the day, and £16 2_s._ 6_d._
yearly for a livery, payable quarterly, from Lady-day 1674, and to
continue during His Majesty's pleasure."
Thomas Purcell lived till 1682, so that he had the satisfaction of
witnessing the extraordinary development of his nephew's genius, and
could also rejoice to see the general recognition of his merits, and of
the honourable rewards he was so rapidly acquiring. When, at last, full
of years and honours, Thomas departed this life, he was buried near his
brother in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. We seek in vain for the
musical compositions of either Henry (the elder) or of Thomas: with the
exception of a few chants in common use in our cathedrals, nothing of
their work remains to us.
When Henry Purcell, the younger, became a chorister in the Chapel Royal
at six years of age, the master of the boys was Captain Henry Cooke, an
old musician, who had belonged to the chapel of Charles I., but who, on
the breaking out of civil war, had laid aside the peaceful art of music
to engage in the rough dissonances of battle and strife, and changed
his service from that of a Royal musician to become a Royalist soldier.
In the latter capacity he won a captain's commission, and possibly it
was not less as a reward for his devotion and bravery on behalf of his
king than as a recognition of his musical ability that Charles II.
appointed him "Master of the Children of the Chapel." That he was well
qualified for the post can be shown by reference to the opinions of
his contemporaries, and also to the numerous compositions of his still
extant in manuscript.
Pepys' Diary contains frequent reference to Cooke, and his
compositions:--
"After sermon a brave anthem of Captain Cooke's which he himself
sang, and the king was well pleased with it." (Aug. 12, 1660.)
"A poor dry sermon, but a very good anthem of Captain Cooke's
afterwards." (Oct. 7, 1660.)
"To Whitehall Chapel with Mr. Childe, and there did hear Captain
Cooke and his boys make trial of an anthem against to-morrow, which
was brave musique." (Feb. 23, 1661.)
"Captain Cooke, Mr. Gibbons, and others of the king's musicians,
were come to present my Lord with some songs and symphonys, which
were performed very finely." (May 19, 1661.)
"After dinner Mr. Townsend was called upon by Captain Cooke; so we
three went to a taverne hard by, and there he did give us a song or
two, and without doubt he hath the best manner of singing in the
world." (July 27, 1661.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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